Southern Miss Band Chants Discriminatory Comments At Latino Player

Kansas State's Angel Rodriguez (13) gets control of a loose ball in front of Southern Mississippi's Neil Watson, left, defends in the first half of an East Regional NCAA tournament second-round college basketball game on Thursday, March 15, 2012, in Pittsburgh.AP

If you listened closely to the Kansas State University vs. Southern Mississippi University NCAA tournament game last night you might have caught a chant directed at K-State basketball player Angel Rodriguez that went beyond rowdy boundaries of a typical college crow chant.

“Where’s your green card?” was chanted by a group of students that CBS Sports and Buzz Feed reports were members of the Southern Miss band.

Rodriguez, a Puerto Rican born in San Juan went to high school in Florida.

The chant happened as Rodriguez, a freshman, was at the free throw line in the first half of last night’s game.

The chant was audible on the TV telecast.

Southern Miss President Martha Saunders released a statement on the incident apologizing to Rodriguez.

"We deeply regret the remarks made by a few students at today's game. The words of these individuals do not represent the sentiments of our pep band, athletic department or university,” said Saunders. “We apologize to Mr. Rodriguez and will take quick and appropriate disciplinary action against the students involved in this isolated incident."

Southern Miss officials have gone out of their way to distance themselves from the chant and explain that it does not reflect their university.

CBS Sports also reported that some members of the band asked members of the media if they heard the chant.